This Sounds Familiar

My ex behaves so well for a short amount of time.  Just when I begin to think he may have a shred of common sense, he proves . . . he does not. 

Every few months he pulls this shit where he refuses to bring A and N home from their weekend visit. E insists I come and get them even though I have bald tires and the roads are ice covered.  In addition to that I was unable (thanks to the fast one G’s ex pulled yesterday , read below) to purchase my new plates as well as my insurance. 

It’s so embarrassing to have been married to someone who is willing to endanger the lives of his own children.

 **When it rains it pours, sometimes it floods, and when it really begins to pour, the entire dam breaks.  I need to invest in some new buckets.

COUPON CODES

Use these codes at the checkout and you’ll receive some great savings.  I’ve used the coupons for Metro Style.  They all work . . . Plus they have great clothes . . .

 https://www.metrostyle.com

deferred billing for 90 days:  MSDEFBILL

50% off 1 item:  MS50%

10%, 20%, 30% off 1,2,3 items:  MSMETRO

 I also have codes for Spiegal, Chadwicks, Newport News, Woman Within, Brylane Homes.

 There are tons of great sites out there for most major stores.  Just do a search for: store coupon codes 2008.  Hope this helps.  I saved around $70 at Metro Style.

The past few weeks have been nothing more than pure hell . . .

 It’s good to see my old friends are still blogging!

 Here’s what’s been happening.  Our shop is closed.  Apparently, the new general manager (aka Hank) thought my husband was ’scooting out’ before we paid rent several weeks ago.  G was taking flash books out to the car as he was going to work at his buddies shop during the week as things have slow at the trade centers.  The manager became violent, illegally searched our shop for our books.  One thing led to another.  On Monday of the following week we learned that the trade center had illegally siezed all of our equipment, our personal property as well as all our financial records and customer paperwork.  Hank then proceeded to go into the next booth we he and several others actually ripped open brand new speaker boxes in search of our flash books.

 Cuurently, we have no idea where our property is.  We have contacted an attorney and have a strong case on many levels.  I’ve also contacted Fox 2 Problem Solvers.

Let’s see . . . what else . . . This is a charmer . . . My husband’s ex girlfriend found her way into our checking account and cancelled it.  My husbands VA check had just been deposited.

On the upside, I have a great husband, beautiful intelligent children and a nice home; and aside from being totally screwed from two different directions I still have my sanity.  I’m hoping I still have it when I wake up tomorrow.

Back to Blog

A good, long while has passed since I’ve written . . . I’m usually more computer ’savvy’ than computer ’stupid’.  Hence, the only problem with my wireless was not my wireless at all.  Lucy(fur) chewed through the cord. 

 Thanksgiving went well despite the fact that we closed our shop.  In fact, we have a lawsuit pending . . . I even notified Problem Solvers of the situation.  GTC is laughable, I’m relieved that we’re out of there.

 My way of life for the past few years is over and for the first time in a long time I ‘m spending weekends with my children. 

I would write morre but I’ve been online looking for my next adventure . . . I’m tired . .  .

King of the Hill

I was baffled, amused and bewildered . . . all at once.

Several months ago the ‘trade’ center (where our shop is located) employed a new general manager.  The only way I can accurately describe him is to compare him to ‘Hank” from “King of the Hill”, mixed with a whole lotta arrogance and a few hits of crack . . . a self proclaimed ‘good ol’ boy, whos people skills are sadly lacking.  Tattoo High School has turned into ‘Romper Room’, and we’re considering pulling out altogether.

Normally, the hubby and I go to work, tattoo for the love of tattooing, and avoid the ‘trade center’ drama altogether.  With so many people, from all avenues, with different businesses, different income levels, different ways of life altogether, it usually makes for an interesting mix.  It’s kind of like a downtown market place with a little bit of everything. 

Over the years, my husband and I have come to love working in the trade centers.  Someone somewhere will always have something negative to say about trade center businesses, but until you’ve lived it, you probably can’t sufficiently appreciate how interesting it can really be.  It eventually becomes a lifestyle.  We spend the weekdays with our children and put in around fourty hours each weekend.  Honestly, I’m not certain I would know how to do anything else.  I was upset to see my husband so upset.  I’m upset to see vendors and employees of the trade center literally screamed at.  I’m upset to see really good poeple treated like shit by someone who wants to come in and take over, change everything we’ve all worked for, without any regard for these people’s lives, values and feelings. 

 

Raven . . . Can you cast a nasty spell for me??

 

Help with title/banner

I’m in dire need of some help with my title, banner, whatever it’s correctly called.  I’m new to Word Press.  Any advice is greatly appreciated . . .

From the Dark Side

Tonight was ‘meet the teacher’ night at A and N’s school.  A’s teacher seems pretty pleasant and is very enthusiastic about teaching the third grade.  N has the same teacher for fifth grade that he had last year, which makes me very happy as N is sometimes a bit quiet.  Having Mr. S again this year can only help strengthen his sense of well being and self confidence.

 

On the dark side . . . I watched LA Ink for the first time and was surprisingly impressed with not only the show but the artists as well.  It was great to get a closer look at Hannah Atchinson and Corey Miller.  I got a big kick out of seeing Hannah tattoo!  By the time I was finished watching several episodes I was felt ‘more’ inspired than I have in a long time.  There have been so many times over the past year when I wanted to throwm my machine down and just say fuck it.  The show helped me regroup to an extent.  I REMEMBER why I began tatting in the first place.

 

I can only hope that this weekend will go smoothely.  We’ve been playing catch up for the past several weeks.  I’ve always believed that if we don’t jump, something will eventually push us . . .

 

My goal for the next week is to look at some buildings in the area.  G drove me past a few yesterday.  We always talk about it.  I know, I know, nothing will ever happen unless we make the first move to improve our lives.  We owe this to our family and to ourselves.

Bye Bye Blogger

I’m not sure what’s come over me this morning . . . I’ve had this blog for so long.  Initially, I posted on Blogspirit, then Blogger.  Seems I’ve outgrown them both.  Used to be, I’d hit some milestone and I would post about it.  Lately, however; I switch skins or blogs altogether.

So, who’s up for yet another new start??  I am, again.  I hope it works this time.

One More Time

It’s already Thursday, hard to believe that the week has swept by so quickly. I’ve been rather irritable today. The last few weeks have been difficult. Seeing my father, the news that my niece and her son are moving to Miami for good, work, everything has taken a small toll on me and my emotions. Seems for the last week everything makes me cry, even things that normally make me happy. It’s odd how quickly it strikes. It’s as though the anxiety comes out of nowhere and smacks me right upside the head.

The one area that has been getting to me lately is the relationship I no longer have with my mother and siblings. It’s like this . . . My oldest sister has long lost herself somewhere in Central Park along with MM and his wife. She (my sister) has never been quite the same since they moved to Manhattan. I guess her head is too far up her ass, when it’s not up someone else’s. My next oldest sister is dead, my brother is a Bush supporter, J is mentally handicapped, the last time I spoke with my mother she was telling me off in the waiting room of the hospital for showing up at all.

It’s sad, and when I feel like this I mull over the situation, over every hurt, every word. Then when I’m just miserable enough I recall the most wonderful times with my family. The Christmas’s when my oldest was tiny, how I loved the way he would wrap his tiny arms around my neck or the way he would wake me up by peeling my eyelids open and peering deep into my eyes . . . lol. I remember the summers, watching my dad on his riding lawn mower, listening to him sing and whistle, the way he still does, the way he did last week while we visited him in the nursing home.

I so miss the days, the wonderful memories I have had with my family, my children, my husband. I obsess, however; over those times, obsess over the fact that those days are past and I will never be in those places again. I supposes part of this is because M is almost sixteen and A and N are growing up just as quickly.

I just want one more chance, one more chance to change dirty diapers . . . One more time to watch how amazed a three year old is when it comes to a tub full of bubbles. I want one more chance to love someone unconditionally and know that they love me back, equally.

I want to matter, to the extent that I am needed. I want to sing Foxy On the Towno and Starry Starry Night, just once more . . .

Again, after so much indecision I have chosen a template. Now if I just manage to get a bell jar over my pink flower I would be all set.

Seems to be a really nice morning here, though I’m really missing A and N. They won’t be home from their dad’s until Monday.

I’ve begun working on THE SCRATCH HOUSE sit again. As summer reaches it’s end I begin cooking, though this year I will focus more on healthy cooking. I’ll be making lots of great salads, lots of fish and chicken.